Sri RanganAtha PaadhukhA Sahasram (RPS ) : Naadha Paddathi--part 14.5

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi group :

 

Please note that yesterday 's posting should have been

numbered as Part 14.4 instead of 14.3 . Otherwise you will

note that there are two postings ( Feb 14 and 15 ) with the

same numbering of part 14.3 . I regret the confusion .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

Verse 26 of Naadha Paddhathi / RPS Slokam 406

 

upAsya noonam maNi PaadhukhE !

tvAm RangEsa PaadhAmbhuja Raajahamseem I

pathyu: prajAnAm alabhantha poorvam

manjusvanam vaahana RajahamsA : II

 

(meaning ) : O Rathna Padhukhas of RanganAthA !

You are the king swans attached firmly to the lotus feet

of your Lord. I wonder whether the vehicle ( Vaahanam )

of BrahmA , the Raja Hamsams , acquired their sweet

sounding voice by worshipping you and receiving your

blessings . I wonder whether you lent them your sweet voice .

 

The inner meaning is that the Mahaans attain grand vivekam

by worshipping SatakOpa Maamuni of Thirukkuruhoor

and reciting his aruLiccheyalgaL (Thiruvaimozhi ) .

 

Verse 27 of Naadha Paddhathi / RPS slokam 407

 

Here Swami Desikan compares the PadhukhAs to

PrabhAtha Naandhee or the auspicious MantrAs

recited at the break of the dawn or beginning of a

religious observance .

 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Your Naadham serves

as the Naandhee ceremony mantrams recited at the beginning of

the day . Your Naadham acting like Naandhee ceremony wakes up the

jeevan , which was asleep due to the influence of the darkness

of MaayA that results in the Jeevan considering the universe

as being outside the Supreme Lord . In this context , You act as

the ever-awake dawn serving as Naandhee recitation

through your naadham to wake up the jeevan under

the influence of MaayA . You are the Naandhikaree or

the reciter of Naandhee to awaken the jeevan

and start it off on its journey towards Moksham .

 

The inner meaning of this verse is that NammAzhwAr"s

divya Sookthis informs the confused Nitya Jeevan that there

is a supreme master with the divya Naamam of Sriman NaarayaNan

and knowing him as Iswaran of ChetanAs/ Jeevans and AchetanAs

would be the beginning of the sunrise of Moksham to dispell the

dark night of MaayA and Viparitha Jnaanam .

 

Verse 28/408

 

Here Swami Desikan refers to the Aartha Dhvani or the

sounds of suffering of SamsAris and how the compassionate

PaadhukhA responds to them.

 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! I suspect that you generate a low sound

(Naadham ) , when you transport RanganAthA because you do not

want to drown out the lamentations of samsAris suffering from

the Taapa thrayams . It appears that you want to make sure that

your Lord does not miss hearing those cries and

respond to them thereafter.

 

Verse 29/ RPS 409

 

In this slokam , Swami Desikan refers to his own aarthi

during the last moments of his life on earth and appeals for the

mercy of the PaadhukhA .

 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! During my last moments , I will be weak

and will be crying for RanganAthA to come to my bed side . He will

surely respond and rush to my side to allay my anxieties and help me.

The Naadham arriving from you at that time will precede the arrival

of the Lord Himself , whom you will be transporting . The sound of your

Naadham announcing the arrival of the Lord will quench my afflictions .

 

The prayer here is for the appearance of the AcharyAs and

PerumAL during one's last moments (Anthima Smrithi ) .

 

Verse 30/RPS 410

 

Here Swami Desikan points out that the deluded ones knowing

their poor lot offer saraNAgathi at the feet of SadhAchAryAs and

get cured of their attachment to worldly pleasures and attain

pakkuva JnAnam .

 

(Meaning ) : O Paadhukhas of the Lord of Srirangam !

Evolved souls hear the sweet and melodious sounds

(Nadham ) raised by you and use them as medicine

(KaashAyam ) to cure the ills arising from taste for worldly

attachments. They hear your uplifting Naadham and

obtain a clear understanding of Tattva , Hita , PurushArthams

and shake off their erstwhile temptations that beclouded their minds.

 

Verse 31/RPS 411

 

Here Swami Desikan refers to the majestic (UdhAra ) Naadham

of the PaadhukhAs as they transport the Lord .

 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Devotees of RanganAthA awaiting

His response to their appeals for protection , greet your generous

and majestic Naadham as your Lord's affirmation of His intent

to come to their rescue . They respond to and welcome your

Naadham as OM (the PraNavam ) , the sound symbol of

assent from your Lord .

 

Verse 32/ RPS 412

 

O Mother PaadhukhE ! During your joyous travels with your Lord ,

you raise melodious sounds , which suggest as though you are

teaching the creation of sweet sounds to the gems adorning the

ankle ornaments of Sri Devi and Bhu Devi residing nearby .

 

Verse 33/ RPS 413

 

Here , Swami Desikan states that the Naadham generated by

the PaadhukhAs during the transport of the Lord is like

the svasthi Vachanams uttered by the offiicating priests.

 

He says : " O MaNI PaadhukhE ! When RanganAthA is ready

to start on His missions , you carry the lotus feet of your Lord ,

which have been held with affection quite often by the hands of GatrudA .

The Naadham that you generate during those occasions is

uniquely plesant . This Naadham resembles the Veda Manthrams

associated with purificatory rites ( PunyA Vachanam ) performed

prior to any major religious endeavours . It appears that you

assume the role of the family priest , who conducts the PuNyA

vachanam ceremonies during such occasions .

 

The inner meaning is that the devotees recite NammAzhwAr's

divya Sookthis to ward off the inauspiciousness of any evil eye

(dhrishti dhosham ) that may be cast on the Lord .

 

Verse 34/ RPS 314

 

Here Swami Desikan points out the blessings conferred

by the PaadhukhAs through their Naadham on those , who

elect to reside at Srirangam during their last days on this earth.

 

(Meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! Some fortunate people take up

their residence at Srirangam to be close to you during the last

moments of their lives on this earth . During that time , they want

to have the peace of mind to hear your response , when they scream

for help to rescue them from SamsAric ills and to grant them MokshA .

They have concluded that their proximity to you will enable them

to hear your Naadam as the response to their appeals for help .

You console them and give them hope with your Naadham.

 

The inner meaning of this verse is that AchAryAs and PerumAl

bless the persons shaking their mortal coils at Srirangam

with their darsanam at their last moments.

 

Verse 35/RPS 415

 

(meaning ) : O PaadhukhE ! The agreeable and distinct sounds

(Naadham ) that you generate during your many travels with the Lord

during the occasions such as the visit to DuryOdhanA's court as an

ambassador , quelling MahA Bali's pride as VaamanA , destroying

ChakatAsurA through your kick ,Joyous festivals in Srirangam demonstrate

your enduring friendship with Him . Your sounds of joy over the Lord's

victory during those times resemble laudatory poems proclaiming

His powers .

 

O RanganAtha Divya MaNi PaadhukhE !

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Oppiliappan Koil VradAchari Sadagopan